Campo Amigo - Santo Domingo, DR

June 27th–July 22nd, 2020 (subject to slight change)

Campo Amigo was our first program in the Dominican Republic and is aimed at those who want to empower local children who have type 1 diabetes and their families, as well as those who want to combine diabetes outreach with a love of travel and exploration. In 2020, we have expanded this program to incorporate more diabetes outreach initiatives and to include our optional AYUDA Internship program. During this program, volunteers will collaborate with AYUDA’s partner organization Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV), a local diabetes organization based in Santo Domingo. Accepted volunteers, led by AYUDA staff, will work closely with AAV local staff, medical students, and rising youth leaders to plan and implement community outreach projects and diabetes education workshops that will motivate and support people with diabetes of all ages and their families in multiple provinces in the Dominican Republic. In addition, the team will work together to run Campo Amigo and Día de la Familia, two weekend diabetes education programs focused on children with type 1 diabetes and their families. Volunteers will also participate in home visits and outreach trips to nearby cities such as San Pedro de Macorís and San Cristóbal to see first-hand how these families manage their children’s diabetes.

Local Program Objectives

Empower youth to be role models and leaders of social change and share their knowledge with others.

Motivate parents and young people to understand that type 1 diabetes is a manageable condition.

Improve diabetes knowledge, beginning with the themes of leadership and self-esteem.

Strengthen local capacity-building initiatives of AAV outside of Santo Domingo and throughout the Dominican Republic.

$8,750, plus flight costs (for Palo Alto, CA and the DR). $8,500 is due on June 20th, 2020 and $250 is due on September 1st, 2020. Please note, once volunteers have reached their $8,750 fundraising commitment, they may use their fundraising page to raise funds for their flights. AYUDA will reimburse up to $1,000 for travel expenses, with proper documentation. Volunteer accommodations, some group meals, and group activities are provided/sponsored by AYUDA & AAV.

Aprendiendo a Vivir (AAV) is a Dominican non-profit organization based in Santo Domingo. The organization provides children and adolescents living with diabetes the opportunity to improve their quality of life through educational programs. The goal of these programs is to provide tools and knowledge to help young people living with diabetes better manage their condition, improve their nutrition, and prevent future complications. For more information about AAV see: www.ganemosle.com.

AYUDA supports local projects that focus on youth empowerment as defined by AYUDA’s empowerment model. Once abroad, AYUDA volunteers undergo a Cultural Training Program that is run in conjunction with our Local Partner organization AAV. The AYUDA volunteer team works with AAV leaders, local medical students, and rising AAV youth leaders to foster leadership, team building, and prepare for the subsequent outreach and diabetes education camps. Emphasis is placed on sustainability and empowering local youth to replicate the activities throughout the year.

Volunteers work with AAV staff, medical students, local youth leaders, and their families

2. Community Outreach Projects

Volunteers are divided into groups with other AAV youth leaders to plan diabetes education workshops at the AAV foundation, multiple workshops in provinces surrounding Santo Domingo, and the Día de la Familia camp. Key goals are to inform, educate, and motivate children with diabetes and their families

Volunteers take part in selected home visits to increase the integration of families into the local diabetes community

A goal of outreach is to motivate AAV youth with diabetes to be leaders for other youth

Another goal of outreach is to motivate parents to be leaders/educators for their communities

3. Pre-camp training and Campo Amigo Preparation

Volunteers, AAV youth leaders, and AYUDA staff prepare for Campo Amigo by working together to plan camp activities to educate and motivate children with diabetes

Volunteers review Local Partner’s objectives and outcomes for activities

Volunteers review diabetes protocols, perform team building activities, and prepare activities with local leaders

All artwork used in the creation of this website was shared from the talented and creative volunteers of our programs. All images remain the intellectual property of the copyright holder. Website design by uppercaseP.